Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has found fault with the Central government’s decision to cancel the accreditation of journalist’s accused of filing fake news items. He said the government should have a responsibility to protect freedom of the press without violating the basic civil rights. He said there are already Acts, laws in vogue to deal with those writing fake news, baseless news.

By stating that identification of journalists will be cancelled under the pretext of curbing fake news is now sending disturbing signals among thousands of journalists in the country, the CM said.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has condemned the attacks on Dalits that took place yesterday when the Dalits in the country were conducting Bharat Bandh. The CM gave a call that the entire country, society should stand by Dalits, who are economically, socially and politically suppressed for generations together.

The CM reminded that special rights are being incorporated for the country’s Constitution and successive central governments have enacted Laws to protect the rights and interests of the Dalits. He said the governments have a bounden duty to ensure that the Laws and Acts made for the Dalits should be implemented properly.

The CM said that the Dalits are feeling that the recent Supreme Court guidelines are weakening and diluting the Laws and Acts meant for protection of Dalits. The Judiciary should take into account the feelings, agony and opinion of the Dalits. The governments, which are to ensure the implementation of these Acts, should also respond to the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court reflecting the larger Dalit sentiment.

The CM said Prime Minister Sri Narender Modi should speak with the Supreme Court Chief Justice in this regard. The CM urged the PM to place before the Supreme Court on how the guidelines issued by the Apex Court are punching holes in the SC/ST Atrocities prevention Act.

The Central government should take a sympathetic view on the on going agitation launched by the Dalits who are crestfallen with the SC guidelines. The Centre also should repose faith among the Dalits and assure them that it stands by them.